Ongoing social housing investment benefits wider community

National Shelter media release — 8 January 2013

National Shelter has welcomed a KPMG report declaring the overwhelming benefits of social housing investment through the 2009 economic stimulus plan, as well as the economic boost to the building industry.

The $5.6 billion Social Housing Initiative was the single largest housing funding commitment in Australian history. The KPMG report showed that 19,700 new dwellings were constructed — exceeding targets by about 13 per cent, created about 9,000 full-time and 14,000 part-time jobs, and generating an additional $1.5 billion per year of construction activity. The funding was also used to repair over 80,000 dwellings nationally and over 12,000 were upgraded to habitable housing.

Chairperson of National Shelter, Adrian Pisarski, said the report highlights the economic value of this most important social investment and that the community would further benefit from social housing investment.

‘The Social Housing Initiative came at a time when the need for affordable housing was desperate for many Australians.’

‘The KPMG report clearly demonstrates that the Social Housing Initiative was a step in the right direction, creating more opportunities for low-income and homeless Australians and stimulating the construction industry.’

‘I call on the Australian state and territory Governments for continued investment in affordable housing and where the currently struggling building industry could gain greater benefits than 2009.’

‘The National Shelter policy platform insists on the delivery of an extra 200,000 social and affordable rental dwellings by 2021.’